As part of this year’s Spring Clean Cymru campaign, RSPCA Cymru have teamed with Keep Wales Tidy and are calling for individuals, households, schools and community groups to sign up to the ‘The Big Bag Challenge’ and pledge to pick up a bag of litter between 25 March and 10 April.
The animal welfare charity receives more than 200 calls per year on average about litter negatively impacting animals in Wales. And since 2017, 1,012 such incidents have been reported in Wales, with pets, wildlife and other animals too often affected by carelessly discarded litter.
"Our emergency line is averaging more than 200 calls each and every year as a result of animals in danger from litter in Wales - and sadly many more are likely to go unseen.
"These problems are so easy to avoid - and that's why we're so pleased to team up with Keep Wales Tidy to promote their Spring Clean Cymru; as part of our backing for the Great British Spring Clean.
“Our plea to prevent animals from suffering like this is simply to join us in Spring Clean Cymru and to help us Keep Wales Tidy.”
Carrie Stones RSPCA behaviour change campaigns manager
Last July, RSPCA inspectors Mike Pugh and Andrew Broadbent raced to the aid of a swan, who got a discarded foam play square stuck around her neck. Fortunately, the swan was uninjured, the foam could be safely removed and the bird immediately returned to the wild – but the incident shows the risks everyday discarded objects can pose.
"All too often, our officers are getting call outs to animals needlessly put at risk through litter.
"From fishing litter not cleared up, to discarded toys, I've seen first hand the problems these items pose to animals.
"I continue to urge people to reuse, recycle or responsibly discard materials; and to read the RSPCA’s advice on how littering affects animals, and what people can do to stop it."
Mike Pugh RSPCA Inspector
Whether you’re an avid litter picker or this is your first time joining us, pledge to pick up a bag – or more – today.
